Chapter 1 Beverly Allen Freeman was born on April 26, 1806 possibly in Franklin County, Georgia. He was the last and youngest child of Gabriel Freeman, born before September 1770, possibly in Charleston, South Carolina or Virginia. His mother was Lucy Freeman, born before May 1774. Gabriel and Lucy were married on September 6, 1794 in Wilkes Country, Georgia, as evidenced by a marriage license on file there. Her father, John Freeman, signed a permission slip giving his daughter permission to marry Gabriel. That slip is also on file in the county records. A copy of those can be seen on our web site. It is said that Gabriel's father was from England, was of Jewish descent, and that he married a Methodist woman. It is believed that they came first to New England where he might have been a merchant. They may have moved quickly down to South Carolina or Virginia and settled, as new lands to the south were opening up at that time. No solid evidence of them has been found other than a mention of the English ancestry remark written in a letter by Gabriel's grandson David Bailey Freeman to his brother William's daughter Anna in 1913. The Freeman's may have lived in Wilkes County for a while after their marriage. Their son Bailey M. was born there in about 1796. It is not known how long they lived there. Their son Archibald may have been born in Franklin County in about 1804, and Beverly Allen in 1806. Franklin County is two counties north of Wilkes County. Whether Beverly and Archibald were born is Franklin County is unknown, because there is no evidence that Gabriel and Lucy ever had a home or property there. However, a cousin suggested that they had seen that they were... somewhere. Perhaps Lucy was on a trip visiting relatives at the time. Or perhaps the Freeman's lived in Franklin County somewhere between 1796 and 1813. It appears then that the Freeman's may have moved westward after that. In 1814 and 1817 Gabriel shows on the Morgan County Tax rolls. Morgan County is two counties west of Wilkes County. In the 1820 US Census Gabriel shows with 5 males (himself included) and 3 females, and is in the agriculture business, perhaps a farmer. Beverly was about 14 years old at that time. That census had a category for "un-naturalized foreigners." It is our understanding that this would be household members who were not actually born in America. Of those mentioned on the census with Gabriel, it is documented that four (4) in the count where such foreigners. One theory is that Gabriel and Lucy may have been the immigrants, along with two other children who may have been cousins or brothers and/or sisters. Or it could have been that Gabriel and Lucy were born in England and had immigrated to America with their parents and/or other relatives. Due to the fact that there is no indication that Gabriel owned land or had a will, it is possible that he was related to some of the early Georgia Freeman's and was allowed to farm or work some of their land. Holman, Thomas, George, William, Columbus, and several other Freeman's had settled the Wilkes County area between 1764 and 1794. There's no reason to believe that Gabriel was not kin to at least one or more of them. These other Freeman's had land records and wills it should be noted, while none has been found for Gabriel or Lucy. I have always been curious about this, since Gabriel's son Beverly was a lawyer; you would think he'd had a will. I did discover a land lottery record for Lucy Freeman in 1820 or 1830 in Newton or Morgan County. Beside himself, Beverly had one sister and four other brothers. Providence was born in about 1795 and lived to be 95. She married Arthur Randell and had two children. Bailey M., a Methodist preacher, was born in about 1796 and lived to be 56. He married Elizabeth A. Smith and they had six children. John S. was born in about 1800 and may have lived to be 63. David B. Freeman says he remembers meeting him once, so based on that, I assume he may have lived that long. Josiah M. was born in about 1802 and nothing more is known of him, although there are a number of Josiah's in the census' records back then that could be him. Archibald was born in about 1804 and lived to be about 36. He may have died in one of the early Indian wars. He may also have been a cousin instead of a child of Gabriel. There is some speculation that one other of siblings, possibly Josiah, may have been cousins instead of children, however there is no real evidence. (See my discussion of Our Family Origins). Details about many of our ancestors from Georgia are sketchy at best, since Gen. Sherman destroyed many of the courthouses and records during the Civil War (1865), when he and his troops marched across Georgia and Alabama. He was somewhat of a pyromaniac to put it lightly. When Beverly was 20 his mother Lucy Freeman died at the age of 52, on May 3, 1826. This is indicated in a family bible notation from another branch. The cause of death is undocumented. In 1830, Gabriel's family is found on the US Census of Newton County. Newton County is one county west of Morgan County. Beverly was 24 at that time. The household then consisted of two males aged 20-30, 1 male aged 60-70 (Gabriel), and one female aged 20-30. At the age of 26, on March 3, 1832 Beverly married Mary Ann Reynolds Murray at the Methodist Episcopal Church in McDonough, Henry County, Georgia. Mary, then 19, was born on October 25, 1812, near Richmond, Virginia and was the daughter of a Scottish man, Alexander Green Murray, Sr., born in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. Mary's mother was Rhoda Melton, born in Cumberland County, Georgia. Both of Mary's parents are buried on the Cecil Howell's Farm, in Oakman, Gordon County, Georgia. Of note here is that Mary's grandfather was a sea captain and was born at Glasgow, Scotland. Alexander's grandmother was Betty Clay, related to the Whig, Henry Clay, who ran against Thomas Jefferson a twice. Betty is also related to the Thomas "Sea Gull" Green, who was born aboard the"Speedwell" on voyage to Virginia in 1635. Thomas's father and mother were from Holland traveling to America at the time. Mary Ann Reynolds Murray had a twin sister, Martha Green Reynolds Murray who married Dr. William Cantrell, living 20 miles east of Atlanta on the Chatthooche River in old Campbellton. Mary had three other sisters; Catherine, Parmelia, and Sally, and three other brothers; William, Alexander, and James. It was noted that David Bailey Freeman mentioned that the Murray's were of good physical stock and possessed great intellect. Chapter 2 Beverly and Mary's first child was born on December 12, 1832, likely in Henry County, Georgia. His name was Wesley Newell Freeman. Wesley grew to be an adult and at the age of 19, on May 13, 1852 he married Mary Lucinda Welch a day after her 18th birthday in Waynesville, North Carolina. She was the daughter of William Welch and Mary Ann Love. Mary's family was influential, prominent, and her father was a founding father of Waynesville. It was said that Mary's eight brothers each had a slave and two horses to make their college stay comfortable, evidence of their wealth. Her grandfather had served as a sergeant and lieutenant in the Revolutionary War. Her grandfather Col. Robert Love had a hell of a time getting his pension, as he had no official proof that he had served. The matter was eventually resolved. It is said he served with Virginia troops. When Robert Love died in 1845, his real property and estate was valued at $8,000. It was in court for years and finally equally divided among his descendants and children. Wesley and Mary had five sons and six daughters from this marriage, but only two sons and one daughter grew to be adults, marry, and have children. Shortly after his father's death, Wesley opened a mercantile store in Waynesville, North Carolina in 1856. In 1860 according to census, his business was doing well. He had $1800 in real property and $8420 in personal property. At the age of 28, on May 31, 1861 Wesley enlisted at Waynesville in Company C of the 25th North Carolina Infantry as a Lieutenant for $80 a month. He was later promoted to Captain on April 30th 1862 and became commander of the company replacing Capt. Samuel C. Bryson who had taken ill with injuries from the war. That rank paid $130 a month. Wesley served until General Lee signed the surrender of the Army of North Virginia at the Appommatox courthouse on April 9, 1865. After the war, Wesley returned home to Waynesville, N.C. The community leaders had been killed or impoverished by war. Law and order had been replaced with disorder and martial law imposed by the "carpetbaggers". It was not a pleasant time. Shortly after returning home from the war, his former Color Sergeant presented him with the regiment flag of the 25th N.C. Infantry. The sergeant had disobeyed orders at the surrender and concealed the flag. He presented it to Capt. Freeman as a token of esteem from the men who had served in the regiment. Within six months, another tragedy struck. Wesley and Mary's home burned allegedly the work of an arsonist. This particular story is mentioned in the "25th NC Infantry Regiment Records" at the Atlanta Georgia Archives. There are about 20 pages about Wesley and his Pennant, and the story of the regimental flag that was lost when Wesley's house was destroyed by suspected arsons. Wesley sold their remaining property and moved back to Ellijay, Gilmer County, Georgia for a short while, but living conditions were difficult there also. An old friend, Lt. Col. Willie A. Hawkins suggested that Wesley and Mary to move to Americus, Sumpter County, Georgia, to resettle. Mary had a child about that time and they named him after Wesley's friends, Col. Walter H. Taylor and Gen. Robert E. Lee. Walter Lee Freeman only lived four months. Wesley moved to Americus. He was employed first as a warehouse clerk and was later appointed Marshal of Americus, Georgia in 1870. Afterward he had succeeded in restoring law and order to the community. Wesley resigned as marshal in December 1872, and was presented with a gold-headed walking stick engraved with a pattern of roses and "Captain W.N. Freeman from the Americus City Police". The city council gave him a silver serving set with a pitcher and goblets engraved "W.N.F.", and a tray engraved, "W.N. Freeman from the city of Americus Georgia, December 4th 1872". The Sumpter Republican newspaper published a glazing tribute signed by N.A. Smith and G.S. Foster. He responded with an equally good letter. This article is published elsewhere in this book. The cane was passed down to my father through his grandfather's daughter, and was given to me, and the silver serving set is now in possession of Margaretta Elizabeth Moore in Virginia, a descendant of Wesley's daughter Pearl. (Click here to see the heirlooms and the letter from the Sumpter Republican in the City of Americus, Georgia). Wesley moved on west to North Central Texas, to a small community called Bluff Springs, very near Lake Granbury, and about 40 miles southwest of Fort Worth, with only three surviving sons and his wife. They purchased and settled land in Erath and Hood Counties near the settlement of Bluff Springs. Wesley opened the first general store there with a friend, S.G. Carter. He purchased a large track of land in the town, to keep the town "dry" from the sales of "alcoholic beverages". By 1877, the settlement of Bluff Springs had grown fairly large and needed a post office. Upon application they were notified that the Bluff Springs name was already taken. After a town meeting, they selected the name of Bluff Dale. The name was accepted and at the age of 45, Wesley was appointed first postmaster of Bluff Dale Texas on Dec. 12, 1877, according to Hood County Records. He served the position for 8 1/2 years until July 26, 1886. His wife Mary Lucinda Welch Freeman died in on September 26, 1878, at the young age of 44, only to be survived by Wesley, their two sons William Beverly and Robert Vance Freeman, and their daughter Pearl. She had bore 11 children, to be survived by only 3. She was buried at Rock Church Cemetery near Granbury in Hood County, Texas, near the Erath County Line. Several years afterward, Wesley married Julia Emma Gordon in on February 13, 1881, in Granbury, Hood County Texas. He was 48 and she was 26. She was born on January 28, 1845 in Pine Log, Georgia, and was the daughter of William Gordon and Mary Elizabeth Paden (Peden) of Pine Log, Georgia. Julia's paternal grandfather was Thomas Gordon born December 21, 1758 in Spotsylvania, Virginia. His father John was from Scotland. Thomas married Mary Buffington born November 1, 1760 in Chester County, Pennsylvania on January 7, 1777 in Spartanburg County, Virginia. Thomas enlisted as a private in the 6th Virginia regiment under Lieutenant Colonel James Hendricks and served in the Revolutionary War. He also served under Brandon's regiment of South Carolina troops and received a land grant in Georgia. He died in 1826 and was buried in Gwinnet County, Georgia. Thomas is buried in a marked grave on Mickey Clower's farm at 3211 Lenora Church Road SW in Snellville, Georgia, 30039, about 12 miles from Stone Mountain, Georgia. This may have been the property that Thomas received for his service. Julia's maternal grandfather was Joseph Buffington born in 1737. He served as a private in Colonel Roebuck's regiment and furnished supplies to Colonel Wofford's Fort in 1776. He was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania and died in Spartanburg, South Carolina. There are several DAR records regarding Joseph too. Having said this, it is obvious that female descendants of Wesley and Mary or Wesley and Julia may become members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and National Society of United Daughters of the Confederacy. Male descendants can apply for Sons of Confederate Veterans, the Military Order of Stars and Bars, and General Society Sons of the American Revolution. Either male or female descendants can be members of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. Wesley and Julia went on to have two children, Wesley Newell Jr. who died at 5 mos. old, and Olin Knight Freeman who lived to be an adult, married, and had two children. Wesley was a community leader in Bluff Dale from its beginning. He was a driving force in the development of the town's business community. He helped convince the Frisco Railroad to build a water and way station there. He was a founding father of the Methodist church and Masonic lodge in the area. Wesley Newell Freeman died of heart failure on January 26, 1891, at the age of 58. He was buried at Rock Church Cemetery, east of Bluff Dale, beside his first loving wife, Mary Lucinda Welch Freeman. The Masonic lodge and the family erected an obelisk at his grave site inscribed "Capt. W. N. Freeman". Everyone had called him "Capt. Freeman" since 1862. An honorable title for an honorable man. The newspapers in Granbury and Stephensville observed that he died of heart trouble and that he was a prominent man in the community and will be deeply missed. His Last Will and Testament closed with these words to his wife and children:
Julia and Wesley had been married 10 years. She remained in Bluff Dale the rest of her life, living in their old home and operating "Orin Farm." She saw to it that her son Olin and her stepdaughter Pearle were well educated, well principled, and had successfully begun their careers. Pearle later became a schoolteacher and lived to be 90. Julia lived to see her son Olin married and to know her grand children in their youth. She died on Dec. 10th, 1915, at age seventy in Bluff Dale. She was buried in Wesley Chapel Cemetery, a few miles west of town. I am a descendant of Wesley and Julia (1-Kenneth, 2-Wallace, 3-Olin, 4-Wesley, 5-Beverly, 6-Gabriel). They were my great-great-grandparents. (Click this link to learn more about Wesley Freeman). Chapter 3 At the age of 64 on January 31, 1834, Beverly's father Gabriel died. This is noted in a family bible, but the cause of death is not indicated. Beverly was 28 at this time. It is my theory that since the Freeman's showed on the Newton and Morgan County census' and their sons Bailey and Archibald shows in Jasper County around that time, that perhaps their home may have been near the present day town of Newborn, Newton County, Georgia. Newborn is within a half-mile of all three county lines. There is an old 1800's cemetery in Newborn that I'd like to visit someday to see if maybe I could find some sign of the Freeman's resting-place. In Newborn and right across the line in Jasper County there are old churches there have been there since the early 1800's. Maybe there are records somewhere. Beverly and Mary's second child was born on March 19, 1836, probably in Coweta County, Georgia. His name was Newton Gabriel Freeman. He grew to be an adult. At the age of 19 on July 12, 1955 he married Elizabeth Copeland in Ellijay, Gilmer County, Georgia. She was 18 and was the daughter of Garrett and Nancy Copeland. There were two sons from this marriage, both whom grew to be adults, marry, and have children. After their marriage, they migrated to Tennessee, where the first son George William was born in 1857 and then to Missouri, where their second son John Wesley was born in 1860. Sometime before the Fall of 1861, his wife and children returned to Georgia. Newton enlisted in the Missouri Command that Fall as a Private in Captain James B. Watson's company of the Sixth Missouri Calvary of the Confederate States of America in Boone County, Missouri. He was later captured in Moniteau County, Missouri, in 1863 and taken to Rockporte. From there he was sent to the Gratiot Street Military Prison at St. Louis, and confined there as a prison of war until his successful escape on March 10, 1865. After the Civil War ended on April 9, 1865, he returned to Georgia. Apparently his wife and he had separated and each gone their separate ways, as he is shown living with his mother in the 1870 Calhoun County, Georgia, census. His occupation was shown as that of a boot-maker. Subsequently, he migrated to Arkansas, and at the age of 40 on July 16, 1876, he married Jennie Elizabeth Reaves, in Patsville, Bradley County, Arkansas. She was 18 years old and was born on February 5, 1858, in Monroe County, Alabama. She was the daughter of John Reaves and Frances Martha Pollard. There were three sons and three daughters from this marriage, of which two sons and two daughters became adults, married, and had children. The oldest son Charley died from a gunshot accident shortly after his 20th birthday and the oldest daughter Celestia died at about 15 months. Newton's and Jennie's son, Newton William Freeman born in 1889, married in 1923 Winnie Lois Reaves born in 1898. She is now 103 and still alive and living in Arkansas now (Sept. 2001). On May 31, 1902 Newton applied to the state of Arkansas for a Civil War Confederate veteran's pension. It was ironic that to prove his service, he secured an affidavit from Charles Boggs of Boone County, Missouri, who was the Union soldier whom had captured him in 1863. He was granted a pension of $50 per month starting August 5, 1902. This was increased to $75 in on August 3, 1910. It was increased again on August 6, 1914, to $100 a month. On June 19, 1915, at the age of 79, Newton Gabriel Freeman died at Hermitage, Bradley County, Arkansas, and was buried in Holly Springs Cemetery nearby. His second wife Jennie died 26 years later at the age of 83 on December 11, 1941. She was laid to rest beside him. Chapter 4 Research has shown that Beverly and Mary may have adopted a child named Oscar Alexander Cantrell. No information about when or if this adoption took place is known of, however some data provided by David Bailey Freeman indicates that Oscar was born in about 1836. In 1870, at the age of 40, Oscar mysteriously disappeared and was never hear of again. During this time there was trouble with the Creek Indians in Georgia. Beverly joined the Georgia Militia commanded by Captain Gilbert D. Greer under Julius C. Alford. His pension papers show that he served in the Creek Indian War of 1836. He was a private and received 40 acres of land in Ellijay for his service. It appears he had some trouble getting the land from the government but finally did. In the Atlanta Archives it shows Beverly as serving from 1829 to 1841, and he is listed as a major. (Military Records, Creek Indian War of 1836, Page 132). Beverly and Mary's third child was born on March 24, 1838, probably in Carroll County, Georgia. His name was Jasper Henry Freeman. He grew up to be an adult. Shortly before his 23rd birthday on March 4, 1861, he enlisted at Ellijay, Gilmer County, Georgia in Company H, 1st Regiment of Georgia Regulars as a Sergeant. He was killed in action on August 30, 1862, at the battle of the Second Manassas in Virginia. Their fourth child was born on October 19, 1840, probably in Carroll County, Georgia. He was Madison Montgomery Freeman. He grew to be an adult. At the age of 21 on May 16, 1962, he enlisted at Ellijay, Gilmer County, Georgia, in Company D of Captain Ralston's Company, Smith's Legion, Georgia Partisan Rangers as 2nd Lieutenant. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on December 1, 1862. After the Civil War, he became a dry goods merchant. At the age of 29, in November 1869 he died at sea aboard a ship en-route to Nassau, New Providence Island, Cuba. He died of yellow fever. He had suffered however, from phlebitis, or inflammation of the veins in the legs, while serving in the Civil War. His younger brother David Bailey had been enlisted with him to help him in times of difficulty, but more on that later. David Bailey Freeman stated that Madison might have been born in 1839 instead of 1840. Beverly and Mary's fifth child was born on March 27, 1843, probably in Carroll County, Georgia. He was named William Cantrell Freeman. He grew to be an adult. At the age of 18 on July 3, 1861, he enlisted at Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, in Company D, 11th Regiment, Georgia Infantry as Sergeant. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on August 4, 1862, and served until he tendered his resignation on February 11, 1864. Apparently his resignation was not approved or did not get recorded properly, since he was listed as a deserter on April 30, 1864. A $50 bounty was offered for his capture. The bounty card showed his eyes as gray, hair as light, complexion as fair, height 5 foot and 8 inches, born in Carroll County, and occupation Clerk. This matter was resolved after the Civil War. William got married, as evidenced by a divorce granted November 2, 1876, by Lincoln County, Arkansas from Martha Freeman. At the age of 36, on May 11, 1879, he married Mary Ida Cannon in DeWitt, Arkansas County, Arkansas. She was 20 and was born on May 10, 1859, in Grand Prairie, Arkansas and was the daughter of Rev. D. S. Cannon and Johana V. Gaylor. Since both wives were named Martha, it is possible that they had married without parental consent, divorced, and then married again when of she was of age. This is just a theory and there is no evidence to substantiate this. There were four sons and two daughters from this marriage, all of which grew to be adults, married, and had children, except for one son who died 17 days after his birth. William became the editor of the Arkansas County, Democrat, located in DeWitt. At the age of 46, on October 21, 1889, he died at DeWitt and was buried there. His wife died on February 6, 1899, at the age of 39 at DeWitt and is buried there. Anna Lee Freeman was 9 years old when her father William C. Freeman died. In 1913, nine years after she married John Azariah LaCotts, she contacted her uncle David Bailey Freeman and he wrote her a letter accounting for her genealogy. In this letter, he told of his father's (Beverly) brothers and sisters, birth and death dates, that the Freeman's were of English descent, first arriving to New England and then moving south, and of the Murray's physical characteristics of being stout people. He spoke of the belief that a couple of the children attributed to Gabriel and Lucy, may have actually been cousins. This will be covered elsewhere in this book as well as a copy of the accounting. Chapter 5 Sometime after their fifth child, Beverly and his family migrated to Randolph County, Alabama. This is substantiated by Deed # SG-4535 recorded in the Lebanon Land Office, which show he purchased 40 acres of land located about 2.6 miles east of Newell and near the Little Tallapoosa River on June 12, 1845. Beverly and Mary's sixth child was born on November 29, 1845 in Randolph County, Alabama. She was named Martha Juliet Freeman. She grew to be an adult. At the age of 33 on May 15, 1879, she married Christopher Columbus Harlan in Calhoun, Gordon County, Georgia. He was 28 years of age and was born on December 2, 1850 in Jackson County, Georgia. There were no children from this marriage. Her friends knew her as Mattie. At the age of 47 on September 23, 1893, she died in Calhoun and buried in Fain Cemetery. Christopher died at the age of 80 on August 27, 1931 in Calhoun and was buried beside her. When Beverly heard the news that gold had been discovered near Dahlonega in Lumpkin County, Georgia, in 1848, he took his family and migrated there. On June 20, 1848, probably in Lumpkin County, Beverly and Mary had their seventh child. She was Mary Katherine Freeman. She grew to be an adult. At the age of 22 on November 28, 1870, she married Gabriel Moore Hunt, in Calhoun, Gordon County, Georgia. He was 39 years old and was born on September 19, 1831 in Rockingham County, North Carolina. There were two daughters and one son from this marriage; however, both daughters died young. At the age of 65 on May 29, 1897, Gabriel Moore died in Calhoun and was buried there in Chandler Cemetery. She died on March 22, 1902, in Calhoun, at the age of 53 and was buried beside her husband in Chandler Cemetery. The Hunt family bible shows Mary's birth as June 22, 1849. Beverly became a member of the Grand Masonic Lodge of Georgia, Blue Mountain Lodge No. 38 located in Dahlonega, Lumpkin County. Since he found that gold was not as easy to acquire, he moved his family westward into adjacent Gilmer County. The minutes for November 21, 1848 of Oak Bowery Lodge No. 81, located in Ellijay, Gilmer County, Georgia was operating under special dispensation from the Grand Masonic Lodge of Georgia and show Beverly as Senior Warden. He was also shown as holding this office when this lodge was officially chartered on October 31, 1849. On the 1850 United States Census, taken on August 10, 1850 in Ellijay, Beverly is shown as 42 years, born in Georgia, a lawyer, and owning property with a value of $3,200. Chapter 6 Beverly and Mary's eight child was born on May 1, 1851, in Ellijay, Gilmer County, Georgia. He was named David Bailey Freeman. At the age of 11 on May 16, 1862 he enlisted at Ellijay in Company D, Captain Ralston's Company, Smith's Legion, Georgia Partisan Rangers as Private. He enlisted with is older brother Madison to assist him as needed with his affliction with phlebitis. He was designated as a Marker and served with the unit throughout all their campaigns during the Civil War. He gained distinction as the undisputed "Youngest Confederate Soldier" since he also carried a weapon and was active in battle. Some memoirs written by him and other details of his life appear elsewhere in this book. On April 21st, 2001 the Sons of the Confederate and the Historical Society of Cartersville memorialized him, at the cemetery where he rests at Oak Hill Cemetery, Cartersville, Georgia. After the Civil War, at the age of 24 on December 8, 1875, David married Callie D. Goodwyne in Rome, Floyd County, Georgia. She was 19 years old and was born on March 17, 1856 at Forsyth, Georgia and was the daughter of Coleman G. Goodwyne and Carolyn Fryer. There were three sons from this marriage, however one died young. David became a newspaper editor and purchased a part interest in the Calhoun Times in 1872. He became sole owner in 1876. He served as Mayor of Calhoun in 1876. Sometime after his mother's death in 1879, he sold his paper and purchased the Cedartown Advertiser in Cedartown, Georgia. David served as Mayor of Cedartown in 1886. In 1888 he sold this paper and purchased part interest in the Cartersville Courant American in Cartersville, Georgia. Also about this time he became a member of the Knights of Pythias. In 1903 he acquired full ownership of the paper and renamed it the Cartersville News. In 1905 David served as mayor of Cartersville, Georgia. He continued to operate the paper until his retirement in about 1919. At the age of 66 on April 29, 1922, his wife of 47 years, Callie, died in Atlanta, Georgia, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery at Cartersville. By then David was an active member of the United Confederate Veterans. He actively helped other veterans acquire their pensions and became the commander of the Georgia Division of the United Confederate Veterans, acquiring the title of General. At the age of 77, on June 18, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, the man who earned the title and position as "The Youngest Confederate Soldier" died quietly in his apartment of a heart failure. He had just returned 10 days earlier from a confederate convention. His obituaries referred to him as "General David B. Freeman" citing his current rank in the UCV. He was buried beside his loving wife at Oak Hill Cemetery in Cartersville, Georgia. See David's biography and writings elsewhere on this book for an interesting story. (Click to see more about David Bailey). Chapter 7 On March 26, 1852, Beverly sold one parcel of real property in Ellijay, Georgia, to his son, Wesley Newell Freeman, for his own home. Beverly and Mary's ninth child was born on June 26, 1854, in Ellijay, Georgia. His name was Samuel Rutherford Freeman. He grew to be an adult. At the age of 21, on December 30, 1875, he married Josephine Frances Pulliam, in Cartersville, Bartow County, Georgia. She was 17 years of age at the time, as she was born in July 1858 in Calhoun, Georgia. She was the daughter of Samuel Pulliam and Elizabeth Murphy Brown. According to one of her descendants, she did not get married in Calhoun where she lived, because she had eloped with Samuel rather than marry the older wealthier man her father had selected for her. There were nine daughters and one son from this marriage; all of who grew to be adults and get married except one daughter whom did not marry. Since Samuel was only 7 years old during the Civil War, he was Beverly's only son who did not see service in the war. At the age of 21, on May 31, 1876, Samuel became the editor or the Courier, a weekly newspaper that served several counties in northwestern Georgia. However, he decided to change his occupation to be a printer which he was the rest of his life. His wife died in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, on July 24, 1902, at the age of 46, and was buried in Fain Cemetery in Calhoun, Gordon County, Georgia. At the age of 73, on January 3, 1928, Samuel died in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Georgia, and was buried there in Forest Hill Cemetery. One myth about Samuel is that he wanted a boy so bad that he started naming his girl's masculine names. This could be true, but is doubtful; you decide. His daughters were Ruby Mae, Lucy Ann (Annie), Clara Belle, Edna Katherine, Juliet Martha, Winnie Davis (Doris), Nellie Frank, and Sammie Ruth (Rutherford?). His last child was Edward Prater Freeman, a male. Edward married a woman whose last name was English, I believe. No other information is known about him. He died at 54 in 1943 in Montgomery, Alabama and was buried in Magnolia, Mississippi. He could have had children. Chapter 8 Beverly Allen Freeman died at 2:45 PM on November 22, 1855, at the age of 49. He died at the residence of his son, Newton Gabriel Freeman, near the Copper Mines, Tennessee. This community had a US Post Office from 1854 to 1859 and was near the present day town of Ducktown, Polk County, Tennessee. His date of death was found in the December 20, 1855 issue of the Southern Christian Advocate, and in one family bible. According to the poor school record of the 857th District of Gilmer County, Georgia, take in 1858 three of his children were shown, namely Martha, 13; Mary 10; and David, 7. On the 1860 US Census taken on June 2nd at Ellijay, Gilmer County, Georgia, Mary A. Freeman is shown at 47 years old, born in Virginia, a seamstress, owning real property valued at $300 and personal property valued at $100. Some time after the 1860 US Census take at Ellijay, Gilmer County, Georgia, she migrated to Calhoun, Gordon County, Georgia. Samuel Jones and family, neighbors living ten houses away in Ellijay, also moved to Calhoun about that time. He was born in 1796 in South Carolina and was Sheriff of Gilmer County, Georgia from 1844 to 1846. His wife died in 1852. Having known each other for several years, we can assume that they both decided to give marriage another try. A marriage license was secured from Dawsonville, Dawson County, George. The date was October 18, 1866. The date of the ceremony according to the license was October 18, 1868. It is possible that the license date and ceremony date are supposed to be one and the same, but there is no way to determine or recogncile the difference. (Dawson County Marriage License Book A, Page 163. Clyde Freeman, Jr. discovered this marriage license in August 2002. He and I both have a photocopy). Apparently the marriage failed, as the 1870 US Census taken June 6th at Calhoun shows them living apart and each as Head of Household. There were no children from this marriage as she was around 55 years old, past the safe child-bearing age at that time. She is shown as Mary A. Jones, keeping house, owning real property valued at $250 and personal property valued at $200. This marriage must have been disolved later, as her tombstone would later reflect the name Mary Freeman. (*portion in green updated August 22nd, 2002). Chapter 9 On March 27, 1879, Mary A. Freeman died in Calhoun, Gordon County, Georgia, at the age of 66. She is buried there in Chandler Cemetery. Her upright stele tombstone in later years was toppled over, vandalized and cracked. It is now placed over the grave horizontally and flush. A new flush gray granite marker was set at the head of her grave with her name and birth-and-death years, by her great great grandson. (Click to see Mary's Tombstone). While it is not common practice for newspapers to carry obituaries in that time period, one of her sons, David B. Freeman being editor of the Calhoun Times, chose to run this on April 3, 1879:
It becomes our painful duty to record the death of Mrs. Mary A. Freeman, mother of the editor of the Times, which occurred in Calhoun, GA., March 27, 1879. Death is an unwelcome visitor, but he comes to the high and the low, the rich and the poor. Friends, weeping friends and relatives, meet around the bedside, the extremities became cold, the pulse comes and goes, and the eyes are fixed and glazed. This is Death. Thou has all season for thine, oh Death! The subject of this notice was born in Virginia, the 25th of October, 1812, was united to the M. E. Church in Henry County, GA., in 1829; married to Beverly A. Freeman, in McDonough, GA., March 4th, 1832; widowed in 1855. At this time she had a large family of children, the most of whom were in their minority. But with a true motherly devotion she began and successfully maintained the struggle for those that were similarly situated. Who but a widow knows the trials of long widowhood? Oh! How difficult for a woman to meet the cold, cruel rebuffs of a selfish world in the battles of life. Truly she, who battles and battles successfully, must be a heroine. Yet such was Mrs. Freeman. A large and well-educated family of children attests to the fact. She was visited and ministered to when sick by a large circle of friends and a large concourse followed the corpse to its last resting-place in the cemetery upon the hill. No one who knew Mrs. Freeman doubted her genuine piety. It is known that for several days previous to her death she was in a state of unconsciousness, but before she had expressed her confidence in the Savior, saying she knew that all was well. She passed away, but in the hearts she has left a dear sweet fragrance and influence. To the bereaved family we tender a heartfelt sympathy, and would direct them for that comfort to that Friend that "sticketh closer than a brother." -- A friend. Tribute by a Friend Died, at her residence in Calhoun, Gordon County, GA., Mrs. Mary A. Freeman, relict of the late Col. B. A. Freeman, of Ellijay, aged 67 years, leaving many dear friends to mourn her loss. Few persons of her age could show so blameless a life. She loved home and its enjoyments; loved to read the Bible, and was perfectly familiar with both the Old and New Testaments, and she delighted in reading anything that threw light on the life and character of her Redeemer. She was a good member of the Methodist church, and it was a pleasure to her to live up to its requirements. She leaves several children who have indeed lost a mother. Her time and affections were theirs. Her children and little grandchildren were her delight. But she has gone from us forever in this life, but around the throne of that God whom she loved and served, we shall, if faithful, meet her again, where there will be no parting, but one eternal life of bliss. Mourn not that she is gone, but rather rejoice that she is done suffering, that she has passed from the mortal to the immortal, and is today happier that those she left behind. - S. Another of her sons, William C. Freeman, was the editor of the Arkansas County Democrat, a newspaper located at DeWitt, Arkansas County, Arkansas. The April 16th 1879 issue of that paper also carried the two above stories, as well as the following:
And in later years, while wandering through the western wilds, exposed to the dangers and temptations of every kind, the memory of that dear mother, and her advice, has kept us free from guile and enabled us to withstand the greatest temptations. Many nights, while stretched on the ground for rest in the Indian countries, we have for hours indulged ourselves in reveries of a quiet, happy home, which we had left behind, in which our younger brothers and sisters were enjoying the society and companionship of our best, noblest, and dearest friend. Mother! The word itself contains more meaning, and is fuller of tenderness, love, and compassion than any other. What fond memories cluster around that name; what a world of meaning is in that little world, Mother! Ah! Sacred name! One that should never be used in jest or spoken lightly. We have lost our best friend, and feel that the loss can never be made up. * Some data here was contrived from family bibles and notes from Madge Hahn and Mary Hunt, articles of Nellie Freeman (who lived to be 90), all descendants of Samuel Rutherford Freeman, grandson of Beverly. Other archival and record research courtesy of Kenneth Freeman, Clyde Freeman, and Cathy Kruckenberg. ** There are pictures of many of the above mentioned people, their graves, and even stories about them on our website at www.ifreeman.com. Written originally Nov.
17th, 2001. ©2001-2004 Alan Freeman |
